Vidya Institute’s Integrative Yoga Research

Empirical Evaluations Of Yoga & The Vedic Sciences

Most of the following research projects were completed as part of Kathryn Curtis’s graduate work towards an MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology at York University. The last project, in progress, is part of her post-doctoral research at Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network.

Project 2

PUBLISHED ABSTRACT:

Transforming the Lived Experience of Individuals Receiving Medical Reconditioning through a Hatha Yoga Program Provided in an In-Patient Setting: A Collaborative and Tailored Approach.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a specialized yoga intervention for inpatients in a rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital.

Design: Single-cohort repeated measures design.

Methods: Participants (N = 10) admitted to a rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital were recruited to participate in a 50–60 min. Hatha Yoga class (modified for wheelchair users/seated position) once a week for eight weeks, with assigned homework practice. Questionnaires on pain (pain, pain interference, and pain catastrophizing), psychological variables (depression, anxiety, and experiences with injustice), mindfulness, self-compassion, and spiritual well-being were collected at three intervals: pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. 

Results: Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed a significant main effect of time indicating improvements over the course of the yoga program on the (1) anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, F(2,18) = 4.74, p < .05, and ηp2 = .35, (2) Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, F(2,18) = 3.71, p < .05, and ηp2 = .29, and (3) Magnification subscale of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, F(2,18) = 3. 66, p < .05, and ηp2 = .29.

Discussion: The results suggest that an 8-week Hatha Yoga program improves pain-related factors and psychological experiences in individuals admitted to a rehabilitation and complex continuing care hospital.

NOTE: This project was conducted at Bridgepoint Active Health Care, Toronto, Canada, from October-December, 2014.

LINK TO FULL ARTICLE: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5223015/

DISSEMINATION:

Peer Reviewed Journal Publication:

Curtis, K., Kuluski, K., Bechsaard, G., Ridgway, &, Katz, J. (2016). Evaluation of a

Specialized Yoga Program for In-Patients at a Complex Care Facility: A Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 6267879.

Published Abstract Resulting from Poster Presentation at an International Conference:

Curtis, K., Stoliker, C., Bechsgaard, G., Kuluski, K., & J., Katz, J. (2016). Evaluation of a Specialized Yoga Program for In-Patients at a Complex Care Facility: A Pilot Study. [Abstract]. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 26, Supplement 2, pg. 22-39.Poster presented at the Symposium on Yoga Research, Massachusetts, USA. September, 2016.

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